Eating disorders are not illnesses to take lightly, especially when they begin to take over your life.

So to decipher the differences between eating behaviors, we're sharing the main symptoms to be aware of:

Bulimia nervosa - Includes binge eating and then throwing up, using laxatives, fasting and/or an enormous amount of exercise.

Anorexia nervosa - Is characterized by food restriction and fear of becoming fat.

Binge eaters - Eating lots of food, and then feeling depressed about being overweight.

But aside from the main disorders that we named (above), another eating disorder is distinguished by having tiny meals and then exercising like crazy. Or satisfying ones cravings with fast-food then throwing up out of a bad conscience.

According to the executive director at Eating Disorders Coalition of Tennessee, Elizabeth Llewellyn, eating disorders come from depression or anxiety and "is the external manifestation of what's going on inside."

So now that you know the symptoms, helping yourself or helping someone that you know who may have any of these problems should be easier.